Diploma of Education Studies

Overview

Achieve your dream of becoming a teacher – even if you missed selection for the Bachelor of Education. This education course prepares you to enter the second year of a teaching degree.

This teaching program has been designed for students who didn’t meet the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Education through the VTAC (or direct) selection process.

This Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) accredited education pathway course will help you build the skills needed for a career in education.

Progress to a bachelor degree

Successful completion earns you a place in the second year in one of these specialised courses:

Bachelor of Education Studies: to lead learning programs outside the traditional classroom
Bachelor of Early Childhood: to teach and care for children from birth to five years
Bachelor of Arts: choose to study fine art, communication, digital media, history, sociology and more.

After completing additional requirements, you will also be eligible for:

Bachelor of Education (P-12): to teach all age groups – from prep to Year 12
Bachelor of Education (Primary): to teach in primary schools.

Find out more about education pathways.

Real classroom experience

If you continue to the Bachelor of Education (P-12), you’ll be job-ready before you graduate – thanks to your extensive experience teaching in a classroom. You’ll be ready to work locally or overseas in a profession with increasing demand around the world.

National & international teaching opportunities

Our teaching degrees offer exciting opportunities for professional experience through work placements, including:

teaching in rural/remote locations
overseas study tours in Malaysia, China, Timor Leste and more
sports, literacy and leadership programs with sporting organisations including the Western Bulldogs
mentoring school students in university-ready skills
creative art projects.

Learning advice

VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.

Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.

We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.

Our programs include:

workshops
drop-in sessions
peer mentoring
maths and writing resources
resume and career guidance.

We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

Request a call back

Sam posing casually, smiling with hand in pockets, in front of students at a computer hub

Build essential literacy and numeracy skills for a career in education, and prepare to enter the second year of a teaching degree.

Careers in education

This course may help you find work as a teacher aide, supporting teachers in their work.

Once you’ve completed the Bachelor of Education (P-12), you could find a rewarding career in a public or private primary or secondary school.

Demand for teachers in Melbourne’s west is high – and set to continue rising. The Department of Planning and Community Development figures predict greater than 40% increase in births in the region in the next five years.

Salaries & job growth

Find salaries, employment predictions and more across the teaching professions:

Course structure

To attain the Diploma of Education Studies students will be required to complete:

- 96 credit points (equivalent to 8 units) of Core studies

Course structure and units

Investigating Australian Humanities

Unit code

AEK1006

Credits
12
Academic and Professional Learning

Unit code

EDC1000

Credits
12
Sociological Orientation to Education

Unit code

EDC1001

Credits
12
Investigating STEM Education

Unit code

EDC1004

Credits
12
Health, Physical Activity and Wellbeing Education

Unit code

EDC1005

Credits
12
ICT in Education and Learning

Unit code

EDC1007

Credits
12
Learning Through Literacy

Unit code

EDC1008

Credits
12
Learning in and through the Arts

Unit code

EDC1010

Credits
12

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

	1.	Appraise a broad and coherent body of knowledge of in relation to the changing nature of education in a rapidly-evolving global context;
	2.	Apply knowledge of educational issues to improve educational practices;
	3.	Discuss a range of learning theories and identify how they enhance student learning;
	4.	Develop students' capabilities and capacity in literacy and numeracy that enhance communication for academic contexts, including in the use of Information and Communication Technologies;
	5.	Foster creative skills and thought processes so as to prepare to confront and pro-actively engage with 21st Century challenges;
	6.	Develop contextual understandings of contemporary life in a global community, and collaborate with colleagues to promote principles of peace, sustainability, ethical conduct, and political and economic freedom;
	7.	Articulate and review the concepts of inclusion, equity and access for socially just education;
	8.	Investigate the changing nature of society to prepare for the development of educational policies and processes relevant to students' needs.

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type for this course: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

Fee type definitions

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) or a full fee-paying place.

Students who enrol in a:

Commonwealth supported place pay tuition fees that are partly subsidised by the Australian government
full fee-paying place need to pay the full amount for all enrolled units before census each study period.

In addition to your tuition fees, you may also be charged a Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Admission criteria

The minimum criteria for admission varies depending on your education background. If you’re not sure which criteria applies to you, use the help tool on this page or make an enquiry and we can assist.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 2 years)

Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE) or
an Australian or overseas equivalent or
an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Importance of ATAR for this course

ATAR+

We consider both ATAR and other criteria

ATAR is not a consideration. We use other criteria

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English.

Why is ATAR not applicable?

You will not need an ATAR score to meet the admission requirements for this course. Only the successful completion of your secondary school studies, and any additional prerequisites. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their prior experience, ATAR, age, socioeconomic or educational background.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
Special consideration for direct applicants.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET/TAFE) study

This information is for people who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.

Admission criteria

Certificate IV in Liberal Arts (or equivalent).
OR
Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation (or equivalent)

Special admission programs

Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
Special consideration for direct applicants.

Applicants with higher education study

This information is for people whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course.

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Special admission programs

Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
Special consideration for direct applicants.

Applicants with work & life experience

This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.

Admission criteria

Applicants with relevant work, education and/or community experience will be considered for admission to the course.

Special admission programs

Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
Special consideration for direct applicants.

Additional information

International students from non-English speaking countries are required to demonstrate a minimum IELTS of 6.0 overall (with no score below 6.0 in any of the four skills areas on entry to the program.

Selection criteria assistance

Let us know which qualifications you have studied and we will help you find the admission information that most applies to you.

Which of the following qualifications have you studied, or are currently studying?

Still not sure? Make an enquiry and one of our advisors can assist.

Student profile

Take a look at a student profile to get an overview of students who have previously enrolled in this course.

Student profile

Applicant background	Number of students	Percentage of all students
(A) Past Higher Education Study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	17	10.0%
(B) Past vocational education and training (VET) study	14	8.2%
(C) Recent secondary education Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the impact of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	<5	<5
(C) Recent secondary education Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)	NA	NA
(C) Recent secondary education Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration alone, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)	106	62.4%
(D) Work and Life experience	19	11.2%
International students	NP	NP
All students	170	100%

"<5" – the number of students is less than 5.
N/A – Students not accepted in this category.
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Pathways from VU courses

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

Certificate IV in School Based Education Support CHC40221

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Foundations at VU JYAC

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Pathways from other institutions

Certificate IV in Education Support

Melbourne City Institute of Education, Australia

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Certificate IV in Education Support

Melbourne City Institute of Education, Australia

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Credit for skills and past study

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Pathways to further study

On completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry into the following degree and in some cases receive credit for your study:

Bachelor of Arts